MOUNT VERNON – An 85-year-old woman was found dead in her Mount Vernon home and police think her death may be a homicide.

City Police responded to a missing person’s report and found the body of Emma Gruber in her one-family home at 337 South 6th Avenue. She was last seen on Monday afternoon when she was dropped off at her home by Doles Community Center senior program staff. When she did not report to the program, her family was contacted.

The missing person’s report was filed by her grandson on Tuesday morning after he had gone to the home to check on his grandmother at the request of another family member. Mrs. Gruber’s niece had been contacted when the woman had not been seen all day.

The grandson was let into the home by a key holder. He checked the upper floors of the home and left when he did not find her.

When detectives arrived at the home, they found Mrs. Gruber at the bottom of the basement stairwell.

Mayor Ernest Davis said the police department will be “closely examining the circumstances surrounding this case.” He said it was fortunate that Mrs. Gruber had been getting out and speaking to people regularly. Had she not, she may not have been found for some time, the mayor said.